[Ellen Monroe becomes a ballet dancer] — illustration for G. W. M. Reynolds’s “The Mysteries of London” by G. Stiff

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Ellen Monroe becomes a ballet dancer

G. Stiff

c. 1843

Wood engraving

Source: The Hathi Trust version of G. W. M. Reynolds’s The Mysteries of London 1.265

The illustration depicts a passage in Chapter 87.

Click on image to enlarge it

The many occupations of Ellen Monroe

Ellen becomes a sculptor’s model

“The face of your Venus is my own!”

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Passage illustrated

The art of theatrical dancing is divided into two schools, called Ballonné and Tacqueté. The former is the branch in which Taglioni shines; the latter is that in which Fanny Ellsler excels. The style of the Ballonné, takes its name from the airiness of the balloon; it combines lightness with grace, and is principally characterized by a breezy and floating appearance of the figure. The Tacqueté is all vivacity and rapidity, distinguished by sparkling steps and twinkling measures, executed with wonderful quickness upon the point of the feet. In both these schools was Ellen instructed.

So intense was the application of Miss Monroe — so unwearied was she in her practice, so quick in comprehending the instructions of the master — so resolute in surmounting all obstacles, that in the short space of two months she was a beautiful dancer. The manager was perfectly astonished at her progress; and he pronounced a most favourable opinion upon her chance of achieving a grand triumph.

Her form became all suppleness and lightness; her powers of relaxation and abandonment of limb were prodigious. When attired in the delicate drapery of the ballet, nothing could be more beautiful — nothing more sylph-like, than the elastic airiness of her rich and rounded figure. The grace of her attitudes — the charm of her dance — the arrangement of that drapery, which revealed or exhibited the exquisite contours of her form — the classic loveliness of her countenance — the admirable symmetry of her limbs — and the brilliant whiteness of her skin, formed a whole so attractive, so ravishing, that even the envy of her sister-figurantes was subdued by a sentiment of uncontrollable admiration. [Chapter 88, “The Figurante,” 1.260]

Bibliography

Reynolds, George W. M. The Mysteries of London. vol 1. London: George Vickers, 1846. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Web. 6 October 2016.

Last modified 6 October 2016